By Rudi Schuller

Both MLS sides are desperate for a win after each dropped an away result to surprise Group 5 leader Heredia.

What many expected to be a battle for first place in the CONCACAF Champions League's Group 5 has turned into a battle to keep pace with unfancied Heredia of Guatemala.

After the Central American side stunned both the San Jose Earthquakes and Montreal Impact by matching 1-0 scorelines in Guatemala, neither MLS side can afford to drop points in Tuesday's clash.

The Earthquakes, in particular, will be fighting for their CCL lives after falling away to Heredia and the Impact. San Jose will need to maximize points against Montreal on Tuesday in order to have any realistic chance of advancing to the knockout stage of the continental competition.

It is going to be a tough ask of the 'Quakes, as Montreal has called in the cavalry and will be travelling with its strongest available squad. Included in the list of players available to Marco Schallibaum are MLS Golden Boot leader Marco Di Vaio, defenders Alessandro Nesta and Matteo Ferrari and midfield maestro Patrice Bernier. None of those key veterans played in the Impact's loss to Heredia, and if they see the field they should provide a big spark for a Montreal side focused on succeeding in both MLS and the CCL.